Queen of Darkness WATTPAD VERSION [Inter-Universal Protectors: Book 3]

76

"Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Theys and thems, and variations there upon! Today you're in for a special treat. You will be graced with my magnificent presence! For I, Naka, will be your guest of honour!" 

The shadows were pulled around Xix's body, coming off her as though a dark aura. Her eyes glowed crimson, and a mark of the same colour - the mark of the Silent Core; Naka himself - appeared on her brow. 

The God spoke through Xix, twisting her - now his - face into a grin. He bowed. "A pleasure for you, I'm sure." 

The Light Eaters growled, ears pressing onto their heads at the new threat. 

Xix's - Naka's - grin only widened. "Aw, come on. Don't be that way! I only want to take away the power you stole." He spread his arms. "And where would the fun be if you didn't put up a fight?" 

Do not kill them! Xix hissed.

Naka clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk, chickie babe. Making life difficult for all of us."

Naka.

"Okay. Fine. Cool. We're chillin'. Havin' fun. Bein' buds." He waved a hand. "Suppose I can't play with my new mates if they're dead."

Focus!

"Totally focused, chickie babe." He held the stone in the hand behind his back, the other coming before him in a battle stance. "So, come on." He twisted his hand into a 'come here' motion. "Let's have some fun, boys.

The Light Eaters burst forward. Naka pushed from the ground, flipping over the first. He placed his hand on the top of the second's head, using the motion to make it over the third. They stopped, turned, and roared. Naka hovered in place with a smile. The Light Benders came at him again. He held his ground. 

Um, Naka, Xix said. You do remember I'm mortal, right?

"'Course I remember," he answered.

Then why are you just floating there? Are trying to get me eaten?

"Nope!"

Then what are you doing?

Naka held the stone out before him, symbols face up and facing the Light Eaters. The shadows surrounding him moved into the stone. A burst of black and red exploded toward the Light Eaters. They howled, white-gold light being pulled from their bodies and into the stone itself. They tried to move away but Naka's shadows held them in place. The light from their bodies dimmed. They floated slowly to the ground, dazed. Naka held the stone between his fingers, nodding at the now white-gold light coming from it. 

"Have some faith in me, chickie babe," he said. "I know what I'm doing." 

The Light Eaters shook their heads, pushing to their feet.

"Kayla, baby, sweetheart," Naka said to the woman beside him, "do get us out of here."

The leader's eyes flared as it spotted the pair.

"And I mean that now," Naka said, putting an arm around her. "Get us out of here now!"

She glanced at him. "But the maze-"

"Go!"

Kayla shot forward, Naka holding onto her with one harm, the stone clutched firmly in his other hand. Kayla made to zoom to the right around the first corner when the maze shifted, opening a direct path before them. 

"Keep going straight!" Naka called over the rush of the water. Kayla only nodded.

The Light Eaters followed. Kayla dared a look back, grimacing at the sight of fangs and claws closing in from behind. The first was upon them in seconds. It lashed out with its claws. Kayla gripped Naka's waist and looped over it. The Light Eater, in its confusion, went spiraling head-first into a wall of the maze. The God yelped, the only sign of his surprise.